A masked man crept into a Great Yarmouth home to batter a sleeping victim with a metal bar, a jury heard.

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Police cordon off an alleyway on Queens Place / Albion Road in Great Yarmouth after a man suffered serious head injuries in an attack.
Picture: James Bass

The attacker had attended a birthday party at the Albion Road terrace earlier that day, where the prosecution claim there was an argument about the choice of music.

Everyone at the get-together had been drinking, the court heard.

While the people involved thought the argument was a “storm in a teacup”, Clive Malone returned that evening armed with a heavy weapon, Norwich Crown Court heard yesterday.

Malone, 27, denies attempting to murder Russell Lambert, who was 55 when he was attacked on February 1.

Russell Lambert had travelled to Yarmouth from London to surprise his brother Tommy, 62, who was to celebrate his birthday on February 2.

Andrew Jackson, prosecuting, said that Russell Lambert had brought a laptop with him, with “old music” such as Frank Sinatra on it that he and his brother enjoyed.

But he said there was a dispute when Malone tried to change the music when Russell Lambert went to the toilet.

Mr Jackson said the incident appeared to “fester” for Malone, and he returned to the house shortly before 9pm.

The Lambert brothers had been asleep in the living room, with Russell Lambert on the sofa, after the party had fizzled out, Mr Jackson said.

Malone, armed with a metal bar and wearing a hooded top and a scarf over his face, entered through the unlocked back door, the court heard.

“In short order he launched an attack on the then 55-year-old Russell Lambert, probably as he lay sleeping on the sofa,” said Mr Jackson. “The focus and the brunt of the attack was concentrated on Mr Lambert’s head - the part the defendant knew to be vulnerable to life-threatening injuries.

“Remarkably to date Mr Lambert has survived the murderous attack.”

He said Russell Lambert must have been aware of the attack as he had injuries to the backs of his hands, where he had put them over his head “in a vain attempt to protect himself”.